John Thune for President?

Sen. John Thune has been talking about running for president recently. He has been a solid U.S. Senator, but is he the person we want to nominate to run for president? The following article from Erick Erickson of RedState is a must read for anyone thinking of supporting him for president.

John Thune’s Tan Is Starting to Resemble Toast

Posted by Erick Erickson (Profile)

Friday, October 1st at 11:43AM EDT

151 Comments

Let’s be honest for a minute. John Thune is a great United States Senator from South Dakota. But the only reason people talk about him for President is because he’s a good looking guy in a city full of lesser looking people, is tall, and has an attractive wife.

Other than that his greatest accomplishments are doing nothing. But he gives a great talk about biennial budgeting, the topic of choice for establishmentarians who want to show a little leg.

The other day, Thune went on record dinging Jim DeMint for helping conservatives get elected. Thune also sided with Lisa Murkowski on her keeping her Senate seat.

Now comes word that Thune is doing zilch, zip, nada to help tea party backed Senate candidates.

In fact, in a review of Thune’s giving:

• Thune’s PAC gave $10,000 to Shelby (appropriator with no real race) and $5,000 to earmarxist Trey Grayson, but nothing for Rand Paul (anti-earmarker in tough race), even post-primary.
• His PAC gave $10,000 to Murkowski (earmarxist party traitor), but nothing to Joe Miller (anti-earmark primary winner).
• His PAC gave both Crist and Rubio $5,000.
• Thune’s PAC gave Jane Norton $5,000 but gave Buck nothing. Update: Thune has now given to Buck and will be doing a fundraiser for him.
• His PAC gave earmarxist Bob Bennett $10,000 for a 100% safe GOP seat, but only gave $5,000 to the anti-earmark Pat Toomey who’s running in blue PA.

This guy has all the makings of a Presidential candidate . . . in an Aaron Sorkin drama for NBC. That’s about it. By every other measure he is toast.

Frankly, the talk about Thune 2012 is a greater commentary on the vapid nature of inside the beltway punditry and Senate egos than on his actual, factual chances. Need we roll the tape on Senate Republicans who’ve won the White House? Bob Dole will run the slide projector while John McCain serves crow.

Mitch Daniels Surrenders the Social Issues

Mitch Daniels, Governor of Indiana, has been widely touted as a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2012. He intrigued me because of his ability to cut spending and reform the Indiana state government. However, this weekend he made comments that will hopefully keep his presidential bid from gaining momentum. In an interview with the Weekly Standard, Mitch Daniels made it clear he sees America's fiscal crisis as the biggest challenge facing the nation, and therefore must be the focus of the next president. While this may be true, he believes that to solve America's fiscal crisis the next president "would have to call a truce on the so-called social issues." He is even unsure whether he would issue an executive order to reinstate Reagan's "Mexico City Policy." Choosing not to engage the enemy is not calling a truce, it is surrender.

Mike Pence was asked about these comments, and while he refused to criticize Mitch Daniels, he said he, "believes with all [his] heart that the Republicans need to continue the fight for the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage with everything [they've] got in 2010 and in 2012." America's next president must be someone who understands the important of both fiscal and social conservativism. Mike Pence understands and has been fighting for both of those principles. Mike Pence is the kind of president America needs.

Thomas for 2012???

The Washington Post had an interesting article out today speculating that Justice Clarence Thomas might be a potential Presidential candidate for 2012!

The end of the Supreme Court term later this month marks a milestone: four years in which Justice Clarence Thomas hasn't spoken during oral arguments. That's more than 250 cases heard, and not one word from Thomas, the longest silence of his nearly 19 years on the bench. Is he unhappy? Bored? Restless?

The Republican Party is in disarray, with no clear message -- as shown in last week's primaries -- and with no obvious candidate to challenge President Obama in 2012. Thomas could be the GOP's new standard-bearer. He has enviable name recognition, both as a long-serving justice and as the author of the bestselling 2007 autobiography "My Grandfather's Son." And he has already survived the nasty political attacks that marked his 1991 confirmation hearings.

A Thomas candidacy would bring racial diversity and a moving personal story to the Republican ticket.

Thoughts?